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</font></font><a class="date"><em><font color="#666666" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Posted 28 October 2008</font></em></a><br><br><a class="country"><font color="#336600" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>PHILIPPINES</strong></font></a><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> <br>
1-PHILIPPINES TO HOST ASIAN FOOD AND NUTRITION SAFETY CONFAB <br>2-WHO WILL WIN IN 4TH JOSE G. BURGOS BIOTECH JOURNALISM AWARDS? <br>3-FUNGUS CAN CONTROL DISEASE <br><br></font><a class="country"><font color="#336600" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>INDIA</strong></font></a><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> <br>
4-MANDATORY TESTING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED PACKED FOOD <br><br></font><a class="country"><font color="#336600" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>AFRICA</strong></font></a><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> <br>
5-SCIENTISTS PREPARE TO FIGHT COTTON DISEASE AND PESTS <br><br></font><a class="country"><font color="#336600" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>EUROPE</strong></font></a><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> <br>
6-PURPLE GM TOMATOES MAY WARD OFF CANCER <br><br></font></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr>
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<div align="left"><br><font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>1-PHILIPPINES TO HOST ASIAN FOOD AND NUTRITION SAFETY CONFAB</strong><br>28-October-2008 SEARCA BIC News Release<br><br>Scientists from international agencies, governments, health and research institutions, and industry organizations will convene at the 5th Asian Conference on Food and Nutrition Safety (ACFNS), slated on 3-7 November 2008 at Shangri-La's Mactan, Cebu, Philippines.<br>
<br>The International Life Science Institute (ILSI) Southeast Asia Region and the Philippines Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute jointly organize the 5th ACFNS, with the theme "Science-based Solutions - Sustainable Actions." The conference will focus on emerging global challenges, food and nutrition issues, and ways of harnessing new technologies for sustainable actions to secure safer and better food supply.<br>
<br>At about the same time and venue, a Pre-Conference Satellite Symposium on Biotechnology and Nutritionally Enhanced Food and Crops will be held on 3-4 November 2008 to complement the main conference. The symposium will present updates on recent scientific developments and applications as well as regulatory issues on safety and nutritional assessments of nutritionally enhanced biotech-derived crops and products.<br>
<br>To learn more about the conference, download its brochure at </font></font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/events/2008/5thACFNS_nov2008.pdf"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.bic.searca.org/events/2008/5thACFNS_nov2008.pdf">http://www.bic.searca.org/events/2008/5thACFNS_nov2008.pdf</a></font></a><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> or poster at </font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/events/2008/5thACFNSPoster.jpg"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.bic.searca.org/events/2008/5thACFNSPoster.jpg">http://www.bic.searca.org/events/2008/5thACFNSPoster.jpg</a></font></a><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">. <br>
<br>Further details may be also viewed at the following websites:<br><br>5th ACFNS Conference Website:<br></font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ilsiacfns2008.com/"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.ilsiacfns2008.com/">http://www.ilsiacfns2008.com/</a></font></a><br>
<br><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Pre-Conference Satellite Symposium on Biotechnology and Nutritionally Enhanced Food and Crops:<br></font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ilsiacfns2008.com/s_index.php"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.ilsiacfns2008.com/s_index.php">http://www.ilsiacfns2008.com/s_index.php</a></font></a><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> <em><strong>(Rochella B. Lapitan, SEARCA BIC)</strong></em><br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br><strong>2-WHO WILL WIN IN 4TH JOSE G. BURGOS BIOTECH JOURNALISM AWARDS?</strong><br>26-October-2008 BusinessMirror<br><br>Who will be the winners in this year's Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism? Who will join the ranks of perennial winners Melody Aguiba of the Manila Bulletin and Rocel Felix formerly of the Philippine Star?<br>
<br>Now on its fourth year, the biotech awards recognize Filipino reporters who wrote exemplary news and feature stories on biotechnology in national dailies from August 2007 to July 2008.<br><br>This year's awarding ceremonies will be held on November 27. Prizes of P30,000, P20,000 and P10,000 await the winners of the first, second and third prizes in the best news and best feature categories, respectively. They will also receive plaques.<br>
<br>Three newspapers which printed the most number of biotech stories will receive recognition as well.<br><br>This year's panel of judges is composed of individuals who are experts in their respective fields in biotechnology and communication. They are Dr. Patricio Faylon, executive director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and National Resources , the panel chairman; Dr. Gaudencio Petalcorin Jr., national president of Biotechnology Information and Organization Network; Dr. Saturnina Halos, chairperson of the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Advisory Team; Rolly Estabillo, vice president for corporate communications of Philippine Airlines; and Angelo Palmones, president of Philippine Science Journalists Association of the Philippines Inc.).<br>
<br>The articles which qualified in the awards were collected from among those monitored by the Biotech Media and Advocacy Resource Center (BMARC), a consortium that promotes the government's biotech program. BMARC has been conducting the awards to help motivate and sustain the interest of media practitioners in disseminating biotech information.<br>
<br>BMARC is composed of the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, Biotech Coalition of the Philippines, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources and Development and the J. Burgos Media Services Inc.<br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br><strong>3-FUNGUS CAN CONTROL DISEASE</strong><br>by Rudy A. Fernandez<br>26-October-2008 The Philippine STAR<br><br>Pestered by the clubroot disease attacking your crucifer plants?<br>
<br>Use a fungus called Trichoderma koninggi in controlling this disease that usually damages crucifer (a family of plants that include cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, mustard, and others).<br><br>Attesting to this is a study titled "Trichoderma-based Management of Clubroot Disease of Crucifer" conducted by researchers Teresita Mangili, Trenesie Lorezco, and Rhonda Oloan of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry-Baguio National Crop Research and Development Center (DA-BPI-BNCRDC) in Baguio City.<br>
<br>A scientific report showing the results of the study won the Best R&D Paper Award (Applied Research-Agriculture category) given during the 2008 National Research Symposium (NRS) sponsored by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).<br>
<br>NRS is an annual competition sponsored by DA-BAR headed by Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar that gives due recognition to outstanding researchers and their scientific works. Participants are mainly researchers of DA bureaus and attached agencies and state colleges and universities.<br>
<br>The study was conducted at the BPI in Baguio City and in the Benguet towns of Buguias and Bakun.<br><br>It evaluated the best substrate (the base on which an organism lives) for the growth of Trichoderma koningii strain and identified the best application method of T. koningii for the control of clubroot disease of crucifers.<br>
<br>"The application of Trichoderma koningii strain as biological control cultured in rice hull substrate significantly suppressed clubroot disease severity of cabbage by 72.20 percent," the DA-BPI-BNCRDC researchers reported.<br>
<br>This was applied as basal three weeks before planting with rate of one tablespoon per planting hole.<br><br>In terms of yield, the application of T. koningii applied as basal produced heavier weights of cabbage of 25.33 tons per hectare but was significantly comparable when applied as drenched with weights of 19.03 t/ha.<br>
<br>On-farm trials conducted in severely clubroot-infested farms in barangays Loo (cabbage) and Bad-ayan (Chinese cabbage) applied with T. koningii strain cultured in rice hull substrate significantly suppressed the clubroot disease severity by 54 to 56 percent, the researchers noted.<br>
<br>The same treatment raised the soil ph (expression of acidity and alkalinity) from acidic to moderately acidic and produced heavier weights of cabbage and Chinese cabbage heads, they concluded.<br><br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br>
</font><font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>INDIA<br>4-MANDATORY TESTING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED PACKED FOOD<br></strong>22-October-2008 </font></font><a target="_blank" href="http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=44085"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Press Information Bureau (India)</font></a><br>
<br><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) under the administrative control of Ministry of Environment and Forests has not ordered for mandatory testing of Genetically Modified Packed Food being sold in the country. However, Approval of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the statutory body constituted under the 'Rules for the Manufacture, Use /Import /Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms / Genetically Engineering Organisms or Cells, 1989' notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, is mandatory prior to commercial use of genetically modified organisms and products derived therefrom. The GEAC is following a case by case system of approvals for which extensive rules and guidelines have been framed for evaluating their environmental and health safety. As of date, the GEAC has approved the environmental release of only Bt cotton in India. The GEAC had received request only for import and commercial use of GM Soybean oil in India which was granted during July 2007. No other request has been received so far. <br>
<br>The results of the biosafety studies including toxicity and allergenicity data of all commercially released genetically modified crops are available in the public domain at </font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.envfor.nic.in/"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.envfor.nic.in">www.envfor.nic.in</a></font></a><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> and </font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.igmoris.nic.in/"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.igmoris.nic.in">www.igmoris.nic.in</a></font></a><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">. Stakeholder comments are taken into consideration prior to their commercial release. <br>
<br>This was stated by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Shri Namo Narain Meena in a reply to a question by Shri M. Raja Mohan Reddy in Lok Sabha.<br><br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br>
</font><font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>AFRICA<br>5-SCIENTISTS PREPARE TO FIGHT COTTON DISEASE AND PESTS<br></strong>by Lominda Afedraru<br>22-October-2008 </font></font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/features/Scientists_prepare_to_fight_cotton_disease_and_pests_73483.shtml?amp;cid=0&ei=dln-SInKEoG2wgGy3L2OCQ&usg=AFQjCNGo4-kCk8tVk2m0qFnqP2LJ95cntw"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Daily Monitor</font></a><br>
<br><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Scientists in Uganda will soon begin testing the genetically modified cotton in their laboratories to prove whether they are resistant to cotton wilt and other related cotton diseases, which has been destroying the conventional cotton plant.<br>
<br>The government recently gave a go ahead for scientists to carry out the above research just as they have been doing to other crops such as the East African Highland banana and cassava.<br><br>However, according the Regional coordinator for the Bio-safety System programme, Dr Thereza Sengoba, scientists will carry out this test in their laboratories and later confined filed trials will be conducted at two sites, in Western Uganda at Mubuku and Eastern Uganda at Serere.<br>
<br>This is because the two regions are considered to be representing major cotton growing areas with different agro- ecologies. Dr Senbgoba said this while presenting a paper at the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) on the topic, Evolution of agro- biotechnology and the challenges of seed system in Africa.<br>
<br>The British introduced traditional Cotton to Uganda in 1903. It quickly established itself as Uganda's export crop and became the main foreign exchange earner.<br><br>According to scientists, cotton production in Uganda is mainly by peasant farmers and it is affected by a number of factors ranging from poor management of insects, pests, weeds, diseases and soil. This is the reason why scientists are trying a research on the genetically modified cotton hoping it may give yields compared to the traditional cotton. <br>
<br>According to data information by the scientists, in 1994 the government under the Economic recovery programme decided to revive and support cotton production so as to diversify sources for foreign exchange earnings and avoidance on coffee. <br>
<br>Structural changes were put in place and the Cotton Development Organisation was charged with overseeing production and marketing. The Cotton industry was also liberalised and services were privatised. This created conducive atmosphere, which enabled growth of the private sector such as Uganda Ginners and Cotton Export Association, Oil Millers and Textile millers.<br>
<br>Despite this heavy investment in the cotton industry, research has shown that cotton production has stagnated at about 200,000 metric tones in the past several years. There are a number of constraints still affecting cotton production and these include among others, pests such as bollworms, weeds and soil fertility.<br>
<br>The traditional cotton requires farmers to carry under the cotton plantation five to six times which farmers find tedious.<br>In view of the above constraints, scientists have been looking for options to solve them in a bid to achieve the targeted amount of cotton production.<br>
<br>This is the reason why they are venturing into research in the genetically modified cotton and one of the biotechnologies they have identified is the Ball guard11, which will be used to evaluate the modified cotton varieties by crossing the genes extracted from a soil bacterium called B. Thrugiensis to control the bollworms.<br>
<br>According to the scientists, this genetically modified cotton will reduce the frequency of spraying cotton from six times to two to three times depending on the availability of secondary pests thus reducing on environmental pollution and health issues. <br>
<br>Genetically modified Cotton is now grown in nine countries worldwide with the three leading countries as China, India and US. Studies from the World Bank indicate that if countries adopt the genetically modified cotton, they stand to benefit more than they would with the conventional cotton under the Initiative of the World Trade Organisation. Genitically modified cotton is one of the upcoming seeds with others being maize, banana, sorghum and cassava.<br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br></font><font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>EUROPE<br>6-PURPLE GM TOMATOES MAY WARD OFF CANCER<br></strong>by Ian Sample (Science Correspondent)<br>
27-October-2008 </font></font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/oct/27/cancer-gm-food"><font color="#0000ff" size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The Guardian</font></a><br><br><font size="2" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Tomatoes that have been genetically modified to be rich in antioxidants can give protection against cancer, a team of British scientists has found. <br>
<br>Researchers at the John Innes Centre in Norwich created the crop of purple tomatoes by altering them with genes from snapdragon flowers. In tests, mice that were prone to cancer lived almost a third longer if their diet was supplemented by the modified tomatoes.<br>
<br>The findings, which appear in the journal Nature Biotechnology, pave the way for a new generation of "functional foods" that could potentially offer protection against serious diseases. <br><br>The team, led by Cathie Martin, a professor of plant biology, plans to investigate whether the anti-cancer properties of the tomatoes also protect humans.<br>
<br>The scientists started by plucking genes from snapdragons that are responsible for the deep red pigment in the flower's petals. The colouring is due to an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which is also found in blueberries and blackberries. By inserting the genes into tomato plants, the scientists created a crop so rich in anthocyanin it turned purple as it ripened.<br>
<br>Martin said she was "bowled over" by the results. "It's really clear that the mice eating the modified tomato start to die significantly later than mice on the normal tomatoes," she said. "At the very least, it suggests that what you eat can really make a contribution towards preventing disease and helping to keep you healthy." <br>
<br>Derek Burke, former chair of the UK's regulatory committee on GM, said: "This is a truly positive outcome from genetic modification of plants, and a real help to people wanting to improve their diets."<br>
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<td bgcolor="#fcfdce" valign="top" width="184"><br><a class="events" target="_blank" href="http://www.searca.org/web/news/2008/oct/web/22.html"><font color="#336600" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Filipinos getting poorer and hungrier</strong></font></a><font size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> <br>
<br></font><a class="events" target="_blank" href="http://www.searca.org/web/news/2008/oct/web/10.html"><font color="#336600" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Let's look for solutions…</strong></font></a><font size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> <br>
<br></font><a class="events" target="_blank" href="http://www.searca.org/web/news/2008/oct/web/06.html"><font color="#336600" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Ecotourism: enjoying nature at its best</strong></font></a><font size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> <br>
<br></font><a class="events" target="_blank" href="http://www.searca.org/web/news/2008/sep/web/29.html"><font color="#336600" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>OFW lady turns biotech corn farmer</strong></font></a><font size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> <br>
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<td bgcolor="#eeffa8" valign="top" width="183"><br><a class="events" target="_blank" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/www.ias.unu.edu/events"><font color="#336600" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>UNU-IAS Book Launching: Recent Progress in Medical Biotechnology and Nanomedicine: Achievements, Prospects and Perceptions</strong></font></a><br>
<a class="events_details"><font color="#666666" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Yokohama, Japan<br>29 October 2008</strong></font></a><br><br><a class="events" target="_blank" href=""><font color="#ff6600" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>6th Scientific Convention of the Philippine Association for Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology (PAPTCB)</strong></font></a><br>
<a class="events_details"><font color="#666666" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines<br>26 - 30 October 2008</strong></font></a><br><br><a class="events" target="_blank" href="http://www.ilsiacfns2008.com/"><font color="#336600" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>5th Asian Conference on Food and Nutrition Safety</strong></font></a><br>
<a class="events_details"><font color="#666666" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Shangri-La's Mactan, Cebu, Philippines<br>03 - 07 November 2008</strong></font></a><br><br><a class="events" target="_blank" href=""><font color="#ff6600" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Philippines National Biotechnology Wee</strong></font></a><br>
<a class="events_details"><strong><font color="#666666" size="1" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Manila, Philippines<br>24 - 28 November 2008</font></strong></a><br></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr>
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